The Slog has released information of a decision soon to be announced by the EU, that Turkey first all will be allowed access to EU labour markets and social welfare rights, followed by Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Croatia, Macedonia and Israel. This also appears to have social welfare implications to workers currently in the EU. As the Turkish economy is about to go down the toilet( built on cheap credit, ring a bell), there would massive influx of workers. Are you taking note Germany ? 😉

The Slog has obtained sight of an official Brussels Commission document which, while not confidential, has not as far as I can tell been the subject of MSM coverage, or indeed any vote at all among MEPs. Although dated March 30th 2012 as a ‘proposal for a decision’, I can reveal that the decision has been approved and is already going ahead. It is to grant Turkish citizens the same residency and labour rights in Europe as existing EU citizens.

The unelected European Commission has repealed the 1980 Ankara Accord between what was then the EEC and Turkey, and replaced it with a major change to the rights of Turkish citizens in the EU. The proposal was presented to a working group (we know not who) eleven days ago on March 30th, and approved by that same anonymous gathering. It specifically adds that ‘A first package with similar proposals in respect of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Israel was adopted by the Council in October 2010′ and that this too will be updated to bring it into line with the Turkish proposals.

The following is in relation to access of existing workers to social welfare.

‘this [Turkish accord] will facilitate the application of these provisions by Member States’ social security institutions. This Decision shall apply:

(a) to Turkish workers who are or have been legally employed in the territory of a

Member State and who are or have been subject to the legislation of one or more

Member States, and their survivors;

(b) to the members of the family of workers referred to in point (a) provided that these

family members are or have been legally resident with the worker concerned while

the worker is employed in a Member State;

To make this decision at a time when the EU countries are struggling economically makes no sense, especially when an influx of migrants looking for work competing with rising unemployment would create huge tension. The Slog goes on to criticize the decision.

I do not employ the phrase ‘ lunatic Commission decisions’ above lightly. Any unelected and yet sovereign body happy to take on the welfare needs of these workers at a time of euro meltdown must be deranged at least. To enumerate the idiocy involved here:

3. Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia are all recently destablised States with growing Islamist power in their politics.

4. Um, none of them – including Israel – are in Europe. Small point, but worth bringing up I feel.

5. All four of the above States are anti-Israel in the most bellicose manner.

6. Germany has just passed a law denying these very rights to unemployed ClubMed citizens. How are they now going to feel in the light of this new law? How is Gunter Grass going to feel, having just been banned by the Israeli Government?

7. The anti-Islamist security ramifications of the new law would be horrendous.